Blog Tour: Review: Bare It All by Lori Foster

Review

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

Bare It All
(Book #2 in the Love Undercover series)
Amazon | Goodreads | BN
Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Harlequin HQN (April 30, 2013)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult, 480 pages
ISBN-10: 0373777612
ISBN-13: 978-0373777617
My Copy: Paperback

SUMMARY:

"A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster"

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

MY REVIEW:

After being kidnapped and held captive for over a year, Alice Appleton takes "safe" to a whole new level. With numerous weapons on her person and scattered around her house, she doesn't take things too likely. But who would, after being what she's been through? After a showdown in her neighbor's, Detective Reese "Bare It All" Bareden, apartment, that ends in a bloody mess (Book #1 in the Love Undercover series) Alice lets Reese crash in her apartment until Reese gets the okay to go ahead and move back into his place.

Intrigued with the little, prim and proper Alice Appleton, Reese makes it his mission to make sure she's okay and to get answers out of her, even if that means seducing her a bit to get his answers. Reese knows that Alice is hiding something, and he's being very patient with her and willing to wait for her to spill her past.

After reading the first book in this series, I was definitely excited to read the Bare It All and jump into the world of BARE IT ALL BAREDEN! What I liked about this book is that the roles were somewhat reversed. Usually in books, you have the heroine saying things like "eyes up here" instead of the guys looking at her breasts. But in this book, Reese kept having to tell Alice to look up, instead of at his chest...or even lower (; The characters were all believable and kept me turning the page to see what would happen next.

What I didn't like, was that the book kind of dragged. Don't get me wrong, the story line was awesome and I was definitely intrigued from beginning to end, but I felt that it lagged. Very slow, but I don't mind that all that much, because I got more page time with Reese and Alice, and not to mention everyone's (well, my favorite) bad boy Rowdy Yates. Aside from the dragged story line, I thought everything was pretty much believable and ran smoothly.

I would definitely recommend this book. Although this is the second book in the series, I believe you can read them out of order. Lori Foster does a great job of covering the basics from the first book and it doesn't at all tie into what happens in the second book. The characters are all there, but I'm sure you'll catch on quickly. If you love yourself a great contemporary romance novel with a little bit of suspense thrown in, I would definitely recommend Bare It All. 

MY RATING:

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. She also received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and Contemporary Romance.

Lori believes it is important to give back to the community as much as possible, so she routinely arranges events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

Goodreads | Facebook | Website

Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway: Golden Chariot by Chris Karlsen

Review + Giveaway

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• 15 Ebook copies of Heroes Live Forever and Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen
• $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly chosen commenter

Don't forget to check out the other blogs participating in this tour HERE.

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review*

Golden Chariot
(Book #1 in the Dangerous Waters series)
Amazon| B&N| KoBo 
Author:  Chris Karlsen
Publisher: Books to Go Now (March 15, 2012)
Genre: Romance, Suspense, Thriller, 316 pages
eBook Words: 96,700
ASIN: B007KNLC02

SUMMARY:

Myth, murder, and money clash in this gripping undersea adventure.

The rare discovery of a ship sunk during the time of the Trojan War has been found off the coast of Turkey, near Troy. Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist and thrilled to be part of the recovery team. The wreck may contain proof of her highly controversial theory about the Trojan War.

Charlotte is present when the Turkish government agent assigned to guard the site is murdered. Her possible involvement and a questionable connection to a private collector of black market relics bring her under suspicion. Atakan Vadim is the Turkish agent sent to investigate her. Unknown to either of them, the smuggler behind the murder plans to steal a valuable artifact and frame Charlotte for the theft...after they murder her.

MY REVIEW:

Golden Chariot takes you on an adventure of mystery and romance all tied together perfectly. Although, it did take me a while to get into the book, it eventually picked up and I was hooked since. Chris Karlsen takes you through on an adventure with archaeologists who are diving for hidden treasures off the coast of Turkey. Charlotte Dashiell is in the middle of a murder investigation while continuing on with the team of archaeologists diving to discover a ship that was sunk during the Trojan War. 

This book has different point of views, which I appreciated. A lot of the characters mentioned in the book has their own POV at some point, and it's not a raving mess either. The transitions were smooth and easy and definitely doesn't have you going "Woah, wtf was that?!" Yeah. None of that nonsense. Getting the different POV's also ups the whole book. Not only are you getting Charlotte's thoughts and everything see she's, but you also get to see things from the "murderer's eyes as well as a few other key players throughout this suspenseful book. 

As I said earlier, it did take me a while to get into this book. BUT, when I got about 10% into the book, everything picked up, and so did the romance. Hand deliver me a romance in any form and I'll be one mighty happy camper. The characters were well developed and very much believable. I wasn't too sure if I should like Atakan Vadim, Charlotte's diving partner, but as I continued to read, he grew on me and I was just wanting to push both he and Charlotte closer. I'm nothing if not a hopeless romantic. I also enjoyed the dives and the findings of the treasures. Makes me want to go on down to my beach and pretend i'm diving and find me something awesome. 

I would definitely recommend this book. Chris Karlsen definitely knows how to weave a story together. All my romantic junkies out there, although this book doesn't drip with romance, I would definitely recommend this to you. It's definitely on the light side, but the story that goes along with it is a major plus. If you enjoy a bit of a mystery and suspense, then this book is most definitely for you :) Golden Chariot pulled me out of my reading slump and I am eagerly waiting for the release of book #2 in the Dangerous Waters series.

MY RATING:

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I was born and raised in Chicago. My father was a history professor and my mother was, and is, a voracious reader. I grew up with a love of history and books.

My parents also love traveling, a passion they passed onto me. I wanted to see the places I read about, see the land and monuments from the time periods that fascinated me. I’ve had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.

I am a retired police detective. I spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. My desire to write came in my early teens. After I retired, I decided to pursue that dream.

I currently live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse. 

Website | Facebook| Pinterest

Blog Tour: Review: If I Should Die by Sally Franklin Christie

Promo + Giveaway

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Don't forget to check out the other blogs participating in this tour HERE.

If I Should Die
Amazon (Print) | Kindle | ARe | MobiPocket | Coffee Time Romance | BN | Eternal Press | Books on Board
Author: Sally Franklin Christie
Publisher: Eternal Press (Nov. 7, 2010)
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, 137 pages
ISBN-10: 1615722122
ISBN-13: 978-1615722129

SUMMARY:

Peyton Farley has settled into a new life in southwest Montana.  Research and fact checking for a local newspaper is a perfectly safe job, or is it?  One morning, Peyton awakens and finds a strange man in lace up work boots who is bleeding out on her kitchen floor.  As Peyton calls 911 from her bedroom, someone is stealing the body.

Who is the dead man?  Why is he bleeding to death in Peyton’s apartment?  Can one research assignment evolve into murder, embezzlement, betrayal and silence?

If I Should Die is a suspenseful journey into the lives of many people.  The choices and impacts are repulsive and inspiring.  Silence will never sound the same.

MY REVIEW:

Peyton Farley wakes up in the morning and finds a dead man in her kitchen. And when she calls 911 and waits in her room covered in the mans blood for the police to arrive. When they do arrive the dead man that was lying on her lenolium floor is gone and Peyton is now a suspect for murder. 

Whew. Okay. I think this book is pretty good. But I did get confused from time to time. There were so many characters, I just couldn't keep up. The switch from one POV to another wasn't hard to figure out, so there's a plus. Aside from my confusion, I think the book was really good. From the beginning, I was wondering where the heck did this man go? Who was he and how the hell do all these characters connect to each other. 

I really like that this book is a suspense/thriller. Though, I didn't get much of a "thriller" vibe off of it, I did find myself anticipating what would happen with each page. I can't say I was a big fan of the characters. I think they were just... too dull for me. Not all of them, but most of them. But they did keep the story going. While reading this book, I kept thinking... this is totally like one of those detective shows. Just less "CSI: Miami" and more "48 hours" feel. There was a lot of repetition, which I think could have been left out. I didn't need to be reminded what happened from the minute Peyton opened her eyes up to the point in which she was at, at that moment. 

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a short mystery/suspense book to pass your time. Definitely had my mind spinning and trying to figure out what the heck is going on. 

MY RATING:

Sally Franklin Christie has spent her life achieving incredibly average goals. Her challenges and choices have led to into the world of organizing for social change, civil rights and helping people navigate in a world filled with physical barriers and discrimination. She photographs and paints landscapes, when she isn’t at the computer researching, networking and writing. Special interests include Missing Children and Adults, Astronomy, Character Traits and Criminal Thinking.

Facebook | Twitter: SallyChristie | Email: sally@sallyfranklinchristie.com | Fiction Friday | Writerly Wednesday | Website

Review: One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

One Breath Away
Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Harlequin Mira (June 26, 2012)
Genre: Women's Fiction, Suspense, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0778313654 
ISBN-13: 978-0778313656

SUMMARY:

In her most emotionally charged novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf explores the unspoken events that shape a community, the ties between parents and their children and how the fragile normalcy of our everyday life is so easily shattered.

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the town's children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

MY REVIEW:

Stuck in her classroom with fear embedded in her students eyes, Evelyn Oliver finds herself face to face with a man she doesn't recognize holding her and her students hostage with a gun in his hand. Evelyn doesn't know what to do, but one thing she's sure about is not letting this man hurt any of her students. Augie Baker is thirteen years old and in her class when her school goes on lock down, she doesn't know what going on or who's in the building, but she knows she has to go find her little brother P.J., which is exactly where the shooter is. Officer Meg Barrett can't believe that this is happening, a shooting in a small town, in Broken Branch, Iowa and takes it upon herself to find out who this person is and stop them before anyone gets hurt.

Wow. It took me an extremely long time to finish this book. I'm not saying it wasn't good, because damn, IT. WAS. GOOD. Beyond good. I just found myself putting this book down every time I got goosebumps or when tears decided to leak out my eyeballs! Which was pretty much every 20-30 pages. Ms. Gudenkauf really knows how to deliver. When she says queue goosebumps you damned well get goosebumps! This book jumps from person to person, now, usually I get a little weary reading books with different POV's but this one was the complete opposite. You're getting to know all of the characters and getting a feel for the situation through the eyes of not only the victims, but the families and the police officers as well. There was never a dull moment in this book, it kept me on edge and guessing who the hell this demented man with a gun is. Ms. Gudenkauf definitely threw some curve balls, the minute I thought I had the shooter pinned down, you get a new set of information that has you second guessing yourself.

What I liked about this book, gosh, EVERYTHING! From the setting, to the characters, to Ms. Gudenkauf's writing. You can't help but feel what all the characters are feeling. Being in the middle of a snow storm during this tragic event, you can practically feel the cold seeping into your skin and feel the sadness and the longing that the parents are feeling. Which totally adds to the book overall. It takes a lot for me to cry and this book and the fact that after the first POV I had to put the book down, definitely says something. There wasn't anything I disliked about this book Nothing at all, everything tied together perfectly. 

I definitely recommend this book. This is my first women's fiction book. I'm not new to suspense, but this definitely tops all the suspense books I've read. If you're a fan of suspense then pick this book up, if you love women's fiction, hell, any fiction book, then this is too your book! Fair warning, buy a box of tissues.

MY RATING:

Blog Tour: Promo Blitz for Dreams of Reality by Sylvia Hubbard

Promo Blitz

Thanks for stopping by! This tour was brought to you by: Full Moon Bites Blog Tours

Dreams of Reality will be FREE August 9^th & 10^th!

Title: Dreams of Reality
Author: Sylvia Hubbard
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Self-Publisher
Ebook Pages: 188

Purchase: Amazon

BOOK DESCRIPTION: 

Skye Patterson - 24-year old entrepreneur trying to make her way in the world all by herself since she was orphaned at birth - finds herself the victim of a mind controlling substance.

Moving to Detroit, was a big step emotionally, but she never thought it would be a big step mentally. The mind controlling drugs invade her life enveloping her in a world she never thought she could experience and a love that was too good to be true with one of her clients,

Thaddeus Newman, a powerful construction business owner. When she begins to experience the too real dreams she tries to convince herself they are not real, but as the dreams become more vivid, she delves deep into a world of pimps, businessmen, doctors, and murder, until she finds out what is really happening to her. With Thaddeus by her side, she is able to face her reality and conquer her fears. Dreams of Reality touches on the new age drug, GHB in the revitalization of Motown, where a woman tries to make it alone and finds that in order to survive she has to make her dreams of love, into dreams of reality.

Live Chat with Heather Gudenkauf

Hey! So, I was recently contacted to join in on this Live Chat with Author Heather Gudenkauf on the release of her newest novel One Breath Away. I haven't read any of Ms. Gudenkauf's books but I am fairly intrigued by the summary and I'm looking forward to reading it. I haven't read a suspense novel like this in...well, forever. There will be 10 copies given away during the live chat, so swing on in & ask a few questions (I know you want to :p)

One Breath Away
Amazon | Good Reads
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Harlequin Mira (July 26, 2012)
Genre: Suspense, Women's Fiction, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0778313654
ISBN-13: 978-0778313656

Summary:

In the midst of a sudden spring snowstorm, an unknown man armed with a gun walks into an elementary school classroom. Outside the school, the town of Broken Branch watches and waits.

Officer Meg Barrett holds the responsibility for the town's children in her hands. Will Thwaite, reluctantly entrusted with the care of his two grandchildren by the daughter who left home years earlier, stands by helplessly and wonders if he has failed his child again. Trapped in her classroom, Evelyn Oliver watches for an opportunity to rescue the children in her care. And thirteen-year-old Augie Baker, already struggling with the aftermath of a terrible accident that has brought her to Broken Branch, will risk her own safety to protect her little brother.

As tension mounts with each passing minute, the hidden fears and grudges of the small town are revealed as the people of Broken Branch race to uncover the identity of the stranger who holds their children hostage.

About The Author:

Heather Gudenkauf is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden.  She lives in Iowa with her family.  Visit her website here.

ARC Review: Samantha Moon by J.R. Rain

Samantha Moon: The First Four Vampire for Hire Novels, Plus the Christmas Moon Novella and a Never-Before-Published Short Story
Amazon | GoodReads
Author: J.R. Rain
Publisher: BenBella Books
Release Date: June, 05 2012
Genre:Adult, Mystery & Suspense, Supernatural, 672 pages
ISBN-10: 1937856178
ISBN-13: 978-1937856175

SUMMARY:

Mother, wife, private investigator ... and vampire. Six years ago, federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happened, an attack that changed her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Samantha's adventures as a night-roaming vampire and private investigator in Samantha Moon include ...

Vampire for Hire #1) Moon Dance: Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the attempt on his life, a horrific scene watched on TV around the country. But Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.

Vampire for Hire #2) Vampire Moon: Samantha Moon hunts down a powerful crime lord and protects an innocent woman from her ruthless ex-husband-all while two very different men vie for her heart. As the stakes grow higher and her cases turn personal, Samantha Moon will do whatever it takes to protect the innocent and bring two cold-blooded killers to justice-her own brand of justice.

Vampire for Hire #3) American Vampire: Samantha receives a heartbreaking call from a very unlikely source: a five-year-old girl who's been missing for three months. Using her considerable resources-including her growing supernatural abilities-to locate the missing girl before it's too late, Samantha also receives devastating news on the home front, forcing her to make the ultimate choice of life and death.

Vampire for Hire #4) Moon Child: Samantha Moon is faced with an impossible decision that will change her life and those of the ones she loves forever-a decision that no mother should ever have to make. And through it all, Samantha finds herself in a lethal game of vampire versus vampire as a powerful and desperate enemy will stop at nothing to claim what he most desires.

Christmas Moon: With Christmas just around the corner, Samantha takes on a very strange case: A priceless family treasure has been stolen, something passed down through the generations and buried in secrets. And Samantha gets half of whatever it is ... if she can find it first.

MY REVIEW:

For Samantha Moon, being a mom of two, the wife of a cheating sleazeball, and a private investigator is hard work. Not to mention the fact that she's also a vampire and can only work nights. Yepp, that's right, a mommy vampire. Who would've thought? Sam was attacked 6 years ago while out on a nightly jog when she was attacked by something much stronger than she anticipated. Before she could gather her barrings and reach for her gun, the thing attacking her had already ripped open her throat and left her to die. Now trying to balance the life of a mom and being a kick ass private investigator with heightened abilities, Sam is still trying to come to terms with herself...  her freakishly new self. 

I absolutely loved all these books. Samantha Moon is my new favorite fictional character. Right from the first sentence, of the first chapter, of the first book, I knew I was going to be a fan of this series. The romance in these books are there, but not the main topics that are brought to the forefront. Which I love. (even thought I'm a lover of everything dealing in romance) Following Samantha's journey through her vampirism, her job as a p.i. and her life as a mother, who is still trying to provide for her kids every which way she can, kept me turning the page. It helps that there are a few hunks mentioned in the books, one of them being a shaggy werewolf. The dialogue in these books kept me laughing for days! All the witty comments between the characters really brought the book to life.

What I like and didn't like about these books is the same thing. Talk about a double edged sword. I both liked and disliked the fact that the author used references to the stuff we use/talk about/hear about in our daily lives. Here's why I liked it... I liked it because it gave me a sense of time. When the author mentioned Charlie Sheen, Facebook, Lindsey Lohan, etc. It felt as if I was there in the book... or me living in LA County, I can be all... "Oh so that was that big black thing I saw soaring in the sky that night." Now, for that double edged sword. I disliked it, because I couldn't care less about those "reality" bits that were thrown in. I'd rather be so deep in the book without being pulled out by those little reminders that this is just a fictional book. That might make sense or that might not. Like I said, double edged sword and all. 

All in all, I thought this series was great and I will be itching to get my hands on Book #5 "Vampire Dawn" If you haven't read this series or never heard of it, I suggest you do so now! You will not regret it. 

MY RATING:

 

Review: Never Tell by Selena Montgomery

Never Tell
Amazon | GoodReads

Author: Selena Montgomery

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (June 1, 2004)

Genre: Romance/Suspense, 352 Pages 

ISBN-10: 0312993064 

ISBN-13: 978-0312993061

SUMMARY:

Criminal psychologist Dr. Erin Abbott wants nothing more than to live a quiet life. That means no danger, no intrigue-and absolutely no romance. But when Erin suspects a serial killer is roaming New Orleans, her investigation throws her straight into the arms of the only man who can help her.

Journalist Gabriel Moss is hot to find his next huge story-and he knows Erin is on to something big. From the moment they meet, Gabriel senses that Erin is hiding something. One thing is certain: Erins boxy suits and sensible shoes hide a delicate beauty waiting to emerge...and Gabriel is just the man to reveal the woman inside.

As they join forces to find the killer, Gabriel slowly seduces Erin with his soft kisses. But Erin knows their love can never be. For she is hiding a terrible secret-and if Gabriel reveals the truth, Erins life will be shattered forever...

MY REVIEW:

With a secret buried deep in her past, Dr. Erin Abbott has been keeping a low profile. That is, until Journalist, Gabriel Moss sets his eyes on the mysterious Dr. Abbott, digs until he unravels the secret Erin has been keeping for a very long time. Someone is killing the innocent citizens of New Orleans and Erin soon realizes that this twisted serial killer is killing those who show her the slightest bit of attention. With help from Gabriel, the pair set out to find out who is on this murdering rampage and put a stop to it before they strike again, and they both know the last person on this serial killers stop is Dr. Erin Abbott. 

This book was really good, I really enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was all the while drooling over Gabriel. He can write a story on me any day. I like how Gabriel can see right through Erins boxy clothing and boring but comfortable shoes, and right into her, knowing that something is wrong. And it doesn't hurt that this mysterious yet sexy woman, with a secret he is determined to unravel, is going to land him a big story that will help him with his diminishing paper. Erin has witnessed a murder take place when she was younger and in an attempt to flee she is then confronted and nearly beaten to death. Until she gets her hands on the gun that was going to kill her and kills the man who has been abusing her both mentally and physically since she was a child.

I liked that this book had a main character who's mind is beyond smart. Getting a glimpse into Erins mind and both seeing and understanding how the serial killers mind works, really perked up my attention more while reading. Hmm, I don't think I disliked much about this book. Hell, I don't think I disliked anything for that matter. 

Overall, this book was a great read. I picked it up while I was at a thrift store and it was only a dollar. Great steal, especially since it was really good. I would definitely recommend this book. If you're looking for a suspense novel with some romance, then you should pick this book up :)

MY RATING: